System of ignition.



No. 644,683. Phat ented Mar. 6, I900. w. H. PUMPHBEY.

SYSTEM OF IGNITION.

(Application filed Mar. 6. I 899. J N o M o d e I 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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Patented Mar. 6, I900. W. H. PUMPHREY.

SYSTEM OF IGNITION.

(Application filed Mar. 6, 1899.\

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No. 644,683. Patented Mar. 6, I900. W. H. PUMPHREY. SYSTEM OF IGNITION.

(Application filed Mar. 6, 1899.1 {No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

% INVENTOR ATTORNEYS UNTTED STATES PATENT QEEicE.

WALTER H. PUMPHREY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE KITSON HYDROQARBON HEATING AND INOANDESCENT LIGHTING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SYSTEM OF IGNITION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,683, dated March 6, 1906.

Application filed M flll 6, 1899. Serial No. 708,016. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: '7, supplied by one or more cells of battery 8 o Beitknown that I, WALTER H. PUMPHREY, or other source of electric-current supply. I

a citizen of the United States-of America, and have shown the circuit as being grounded f a resident of New York, county of New York, through the lamp, although of course a me- 5 State of New York, have invented certain new tallic circuit may be employed, if preferable.

and useful Improvements in Systems of Igni- The circuit 7 is controlled by any form of tion, of which the following is a specification. electric switch or circuit-breaker; but I pre- My invention relates'generally to vaporfer an adjustable spring-switch which may burning apparatus, and is more specifically be operated by the valve 4, as shown in Fig.

10 designed to produce an electrically-operated 2, one end of the circuit-wire being connected system of ignition therefor to be employed with the spring-contact 9, controlled by the where the lamps are suspended at points incollar or other projection 9 from the valve 4, convenient of access and where it is not dewhile the other extremity of the circuit tersirable or possible to use gas for producing minates in the contact-piece 10, which may I 5 the preheating of the vaporizing-tube. be made adjustable by means of the screw 11,

The preferred form of my apparatus, with passing through a slot formed in said concertain modifications, is shown in the acoomtact-piece. panying three sheets of drawings, in which It is evident that when the valve 4 is open Figure 1 represents a lamp and electrical to a certain extent the contact between the 20 means for igniting the alcohol or other inparts 9 and 10 will be established and the cirfiammable fluid supplied to it for the initial cuit completed. The degree of opening nec- 7o heating. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of essary to produce this can be adjusted by the combined valve and electrical switch. moving the contact-piece 10 up and down and Fig. 3 is a view of a series of lamps with a clamping it in the desired position by means 25 modified arrangement of valves including an of the screw 11, passing through the slot, as

electrically-operated valve in the connections. shown. 7 5 Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of such elec- If desirable, one or more electrically-opertrically-operated valve. Fig. 5isaview show ated valves 12 may be located farther along ing a still further modified arrangement of in the piping system near to the respective 3o electrical connections. lamps or at the point where a series of branch Throughout the drawings like referencepipes are connected with the main supplyfigures refer to like parts. pipe. These electrically-operated valves may The vapor-burning lamps are shown in outbe of any desired construction; but I have line at 1 1 1 1. Each lamp is provided with illustrated a needle-valve, Fig. 4, which will 3 5 acup 2 for alcohol below the vaporizing-tube. be opened by the solenoid 13 and closed by This cup may contain fibrous asbestos or other the expansion of the spring 14 when the curabsorbent incombustible material. A reserrent is shut off from the solenoid. The amount voir or tank 3 contains a quantity of alcohol, of opening possible can be regulated by the gasolene, or other highly-inflammable fluid set-screw 15. In this construction the elec- 0 under pressure usually produced by forcing tric igniter 6 is in series with the magnetcompressed air into the top of the tank. The coils of the solenoid 13, so that the throwing o discharge of fluid from the reservoir is conon of the current will simultaneously open trolled by the valve 4, which when opened the valve 12 and raise the igniter 6 to a white gj permits it to pass through the fine tubing 5 heat. f,

5 to the alcohol-cup 2. In the alcohol-cup or In the modification shown in Fig. 5the elecin operative relation thereto is an electrical trically-operated valve 12 is located on or im- 5 igniter 6 of any convenient constructionmediately beside the lamp, and the circuit 7 such, for instance, as a fine coil of platinum has a derived circuit 7 which passes through wire. ,This igniter is in the electrical circuit said valve. These circuits are controlled by the switch 16, cooperating with the contact 17 18.

The mode of operation of the various forms of my invention is as follows:

In the construction shown in Fig. l the opening of the valve l permits the inflammable fluid to pass in a fine stream through the said needle-valve and pipe 5 to the cup 2, where it is sprayed on the asbestos therein contained. At the same time a full opening of the valve closes the contacts 9 and 10, and the electric current heats the electric igniter 6 to a temperature which will ignite the alcohol or gasolene vaporized from the cup 2, and the flame thus produced heats the vaporizing apparatus of the lamp. \Vhen the vaporizing apparatus is at the proper temperature for turning on oil, the alcohol or other inflammable fluid is shut off by closing the valve 4. The same operation breaks the circuit and throws the electric igniter 6 out of operation. It is evident that the inflammable fluid will be fed to the cup only as long as the current'is passing through the igniter. The amount of opening necessary to produce the closing of the contacts can be adjusted by adjusting the contact 10, as before described. The same mode of operation occurs in the construction shown in Fig. 3, except that the additional electrically-operated valve 12is automatically opened when the fluid and current are turned on and closes when they are shut ofii. This has the advantage of sealing up the larger portion of the alcohol left in the tubing and preventing the same from evaporating through the discharge-opening in the tube or running out by gravity when the igniting apparatus is shut off.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5 the handoperated valve is dispensed with and the flow of inflammable fluid is entirely controlled by the electrically-operated valve 12. The turning of the switch 16 establishes contact with the contact-piece l7 and first throws the current through the derived circuit 7, thereby operating the valve 12 to admit alcohol to the cup 2. Further movement also establishes contact with the contact-piece 1S and sends a portion of the current through the circuit 7, bringing the electrical igniter 6 into operation. When the igniting device is to be turned off, a continued movement of the lever 16 will break both circuits and close the valve 12 and shut off the current from the igniter.

The advantages of my invention reside in the fact that one or any number of lamps may be ignited with the use of alcohol or gasolene with one or two simple movements of an apparatus which is located within easy reach of the operator, thus avoiding the necessity of having the operator climb up on a tall stepladder to light each one of a number of lamps swung in inaccessible places or being compelled to lower said lamps to produce this initial heating. Furthermore, the system permits the use of only the necessary amount alcohol and set fire to and must be allowed to burn out even if the necessary heating is produced before it is half consumed. This method of igniting also saves handling of the lamps and consequent breakage of mantles.

It is evident, of course, that various changes could be made in the details of construction shown without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Other forms of electrical switch and other forms of electricallyoperated valves, as well as other forms of hand-valve, might be employed. The electrical switch and the valve 4 need not necessarily be operated together. Numerous variations in the electrical circuit shown might evidently be made, but all of these I consider changes of form and still within the scope of my invention.

Having therefore described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination of a reservoir for i11- flammable fluid, a cup, connections from the reservoir to the cup, an electric igniter in the cup, a valve, and means controlling the ignition and the flow of the fluid from the reservoir to the cup.

2. The combination of a reservoir for inflammable fluid, a cup, connections from the reservoir to the cup, an electric igniter in the cup, and an electrically-operated valve which controls the flow of fluid from the reservoir to the cup.

3. The combination of a reservoir for inflammable fluid, a cup, connections from the reservoir to the cup, an electric igniter in the cup, and a valve which controls the flow of fluid from the reservoir to the cup, together with an electrical switch controlling said igniter.

4. The combination of a reservoir for inflammable fluid, a cup, connections from the reservoir to the cup, an electric igniter in the cup, and an electrically-operated valve which controls the flow of fluid from the reservoir to the cup, together with an electrical switch controlling said igniter.

5. The combination of a reservoir for inflammable fluid, a cup, connections from the reservoir to the cup, an electric igniter in the cup, and a valve which controls the flow of fluid from the reservoir to the cup, together with an electrical switch controlling said igniter, and mechanism whereby the opening of the valve will close the switch, and the closing of the valve will open the switch.

6. The combination of a reservoir for inflammable fluid, a cup, tubing from the reservoir to the cup, an electric igniter in the cup, a valve which controls the flow of fluid through said tubing, an electromagnet which controls said valve and is in circuit with the igniter, and a switch for opening and closing said circuit.

7. The combination of a reservoir for inflammable fluid, a cup, tubing from the reservoir to the cup, a valve controlling the connection between reservoir and tubing, an electric igniter in operative relation to the cup, a second and electrically-operated valve located in the line of tubing near the lamp, and mechanism whereby an electric current may be sent through said electrically-operated valve and igniter.

8. The combination of a reservoir for inflammable fluid, a cup, tubing from the res ervoir to the cup, a valve controlling thereonnection between reservoir and tubing, an electric igniter in operative relation to the cup, a

second and electrically-operated valve located in the line of tubing near the lamp, and mechanism whereby an electric current may be sent through said electrically-operated valve and igniter automatically by the opening of the first-mentioned valve.

9. The combination of a valve, a normallyopen electrical switch, and connection mech anism whereby the opening of the valve closes the switch,- together with means for adjusting the switch so as to close with varying degrees of valve-opening. P

Signed by me at New York city, New York, this 17th day of February, 1899.

WALTER H. PUMPHREY.

Witnesses:

LILIAN FOSTER, A. PARKERSMITH. 

